Mining.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2372, 23 October 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

Mining.

The industry of gold mining, to the prosecution and development of which the astonishing progress

made by the colony may be primarily ascribed, is still in a flourishing condition. But the old conditions of mining are almost obsolete. Alluvial has giveu way to quartz mining, and the stupendous deep sinking works which are carried on at Ballarat. The mineral resources of Victoria are varied and extensive. While gold is found in every portion of the colony, other varieties of minerals also abound. At St. Amaud, Specimen Gully, and at the head of the Thompson, iu Gippsland, copper ore has been discovered; it has also been found in small quantities at Castlemaine, Steiglitz, Bendigo, and tho Blue Mountains. During the year 1878, upwards of 15,000 tons of copper ore were raised, from which 4500 tons of pure copper were smelted, together with 500 tons of regulus. Exportation of 155 tons of copper, 566 tons of regulus, and some 50 tons of ore took place in this year. Silver has been foiuid iu large quantities at St. Arnaud and Bethanga. In the year 1878, 22,996 ounces were smelted at the Mint from gold. Tin is found in

tlie Becchworth country, in the TKomi)SOU and tributaries, in tlie streams which . Yana, and in the bed of the Latrobe in GiW sland. Indications have likewise been disco'ver®d 11 the K-ar sranuf »>vHi w°4ing, and several other localities, both remote from and in the neighbourhood of Melbourne. In the year 187-', 2627 tons 16 cwt. were raised, the exportation 10 cwt. of ore, together with 113 tons 9 cwt. of crude antimony, and 557 tons of regains. Zinow found at Daylesford, and in Gippsland; lead has been raised at Avoca, Talbot, and in Gippsland; cobalt at Yea; manganese at Pleasant Creek; tismidji at Tarrengower and Omeo; and coal at Cape raterson, in Gippsland, From a mine at Lai Lai, in

1678, there were token 188 tone 15 cwt. of lignite, and kaolin has been found at Bulla Bulla, near Melbourne, also at Bee oh worth. Iron is found at Lai Lai, and in 1878, 301 tons of ore were raised, winch yielded, when smelted, 140 tons of metal. In 1878, gvpmm, to the amount of 22 tons, were raised at Kerang. In the year 1878 there were 557 miners engaged in seeking for metals other than gold, and 53 mineral leases were issued during that year to mine for other metals than gold—an area of 2944 acres being taken up. Licenses to fourteen applicants were also granted to search for other metals an d minerals. The number of leases in operation in this year were 81, the total area of ground held being fOOO acres. In the prosecution of these enterprises there were 9 smelting works, in which 201 men were employed. Up to December, 1878, the following were the returns of the quantities and values of metals and minerals raised since 1851: —Gold, 48,012,6700z5. 4dwts., valued at £192,050,682 ; silver ore, 20,060 tons, which, in smelting, produced 127,5.-Bozs. 9dwts. 14grs. P valued at £31,865 ; tin ore, smelted, value £313,775; copper ore and regains, value £44,^40; antimony, value £153,16); lead, 600 tons, producing metal valued at £4892; iron, 720 tons, valued at £2916; coal, 8971 tons, of the value of £13,505; lignite, 4it3 tons, of the value of £2367 ; kaolin, 1682 tons, value £7414; slates, valued at £940; flagging, 80,160 square yards and 16,837 tons, of the value of £45,768; magnesite, 6J tons, worth, about £l2; gypsum, 22 tons, of the value of £5; ores, mineral earths, clays, &c., equal to the value of £4802 ; diamonds and sapphires worth about £737 have also been raised during this period. The total values amounted to £192,707,539.

It will he seen, then, that the mineral resources (other than that of gold) of Victoria are by no means insignificant, and, as a large area of country has yet to he explored and prospected, there is every prospect that additional discoveries of important metals will still further add to the wealth and prosperity of the country. As yet, however, gold—all-powerful gold—has been, and indeed is, the motive power of Victoria. It has been confidently asserted by competent geologists that at least one-third of the colony may be held to possess gold-bearing rocks. It is not, however, necessary to descant upon these facts; a few statistics will better serve to convey to our readers an idea of the past and present condition of this industry—for, indeed, it may so he called, its prosecution and development having been systematised and regulated, very much as the manufacture of any artificial article is subjected to rule and a, definite order of production. In 1851 the gold raised amounted to 243,4140z5.; 1852; 2,218,7820z5., value, £8,875.128; 1856: 2,985 9910zs value, £11,943,964; 1872: 1,331,3370z5. ; 1873 : 1,1/0,3970zs ; 1874: 1,097.6430z5.; 1875: 1,095,7870z5.; 1876: 963,7600z5.; 1877: 809,C530z5.; 1878 : 758,0400z5. Thus the yield of gold has steadily diminished, a fact to be attributed, in some measure, to the exhaustion of alluvial deposits, the absence of ptospecting, and the emigration of our miners to fields in the neighbouring colonies. The quartzmining of the colony is, however, being vigorously conducted, large amounts of money being invested, in this enterprise, and it is confidently predicted that the future of the colony in this direction will he of a most prosperous character. The estimated yield of gold for the quarter ending 31st March, 1879, was 68,6320z5. from alluvial deposits, and 101,9170z5. from the quartz, giving a total of 170,5500z5. This shows an increase of 21230z5. on the returns of the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The average ymlu of gold per ton of quartz was Sozs. B‘39dwts. lor the following quarter, terminating 30th June, the yield was of alluvial, 70,4080z5.; quartz, 118,9.80z5. ; with a total of 189,3360z5. The average yield ol gold to the ton of quartz was 9ozs. 7's6dwts. This brief notice of the mining industry, past and present, of Victoria may servo to give our readers a fair idea of the origin and history of tne colony. The primary impulse to the present sound and substantial condition of the country was undoubtedly given by the discovers of gold, and, although the yield of this metal has largely decreased, and can no longer be held to be tne chief resource of the colony, the industry is still of a most important character, and promises in the future to become of far greater influence, to tne discovery and development of gold in Victoria the settlement of the country is due. The population which has been attracted to the country has spread over the whole face of the land, engaging in agriculture, mining, manufactures, and other pursuits, so that a consolidated industrial community is now engaged in pushing Victoria ahead.